CreditCardTechnique

SAMPLES: There are two gorgeous samples ready to view.

SUPPLIES:
*3-4 colors of acrylic paint in one general color family (the 44c bottles from WalMart or Hobby Lobby - buy several, then you'll have enough for Lorri's class next week too!) -- for the blue card, I used a light blue, Stoneware Blue, and Misty White -- for the peach card, I used red, peach and English Lace. One of the colors should be contrasting - the peach card uses the darker red, the blue card uses white.
*A metallic paint (my favorite is Accent's Crown Jewels, #2527 King's Gold)
*matte white cardstock - the thicker the better, so that it doesn't curl up. Poster board works great, and so does tagboard (cardboard)
*an OLD credit card (WARNING: you won't be able to use it again at the store. Make sure this isn't the one that you buy all your rs supplies with! Also, the ones that come in the mail as membership cards and so on, will work fine)
*newspaper to cover your work area - remember when you were fingerpainting in kindergarten? It can get messy if you get carried away!

INSTRUCTIONS:
   First, I've found it's easier to do this on half sheets of cardstock. You can cut the half sheets into smaller card-sized pieces later. So, remember that you are making two backgrounds as you are working on a half sheet.
   Cover your work area with newspaper! Then squeeze a few drops of your first color onto the cardstock. I like to start with the medium color. You can place drops in different areas, rather than just one big blop. Use the edge of the credit card to swipe the paint across the cardstock, all the way to the edges. This is rather a free form technique. If you have bare white spots, it's ok. Feel free to move the paint in different directions too, up down right left... or in curves and squiggles.
   Ok, you've used the medium color and wiggled it across the cardstock. This time, use the coordinating color and drip a few drops onto the cardstock again. This time, be sure the drops are in different spots of the paper. (Remember that you are making TWO backgrounds.) Again, use the credit card to draw the paint across. You can cover up any white areas at this time, if you so wish. Move the paint in several directions. Swipe some in curves or squiggles.
   Now, wait a couple minutes to let the paint set up a bit.
   You'll notice now that the paint on your credit card is building up along the edge. This gives nice texture to your piece as it scrapes the paint unevenly, so don't feel like you have to clean it off between colors! The credit card works like a palette knife, or a putty knife.
   Now use your contrasting color. Place just a drop here and there on the paper, and use the credit card to scrape the paint around.
   You should have areas of color, rather than all the colors on top of one another. Hope that makes sense. You might also have a few small spots of the cardstock color showing through; mine are usually on the edges. You can cover these up intentionally, but I've found that the ones on the edges are cut off when I cut the paper to card size (smaller than 5.5 x 4.25).
   Like what you see? If not, you can always place another drop or two of your first color or second color on the paper and scrape it along sparingly until you like the results.
   The metallic paint is optional, but it is sure pretty! Be very sparing when you use this, and keep the paint swipes rather narrow.
   This paint might not show up from every angle, but that's what makes it so interesting, I think - moving it in the light and having the shine come through.
   When your creation is dry, you can cut it into smaller pieces to use as layers on your card. If your paint didn't quite reach the edges or the corners, cut that area off. The pieces look terrific layered with mulberry paper, and/or metallic foils.
   You can also cut shapes out of your cardstock.
   Another option is to stamp an image on top of this. You can stamp a sentiment and emboss, or stamp an image with black ink. Look at your piece and decide what it reminds you of... ocean spray? Then stamp an ocean image on it! Spring colors would lend itself to flowers.
   I've found that the best way to attach this to your card front is to use double stick tape. And remember that the heavier the cardstock you use, the less it will curl up from the paint. Curly paper is hard to attach! Any questions, please contact Kathi